Electrical switch



Dec. 2, 1930. J, c, REA 1,783,389

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l @MZZZZ;

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Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES C. REA, OF. SAN FRANCISCC, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PACIFIC ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA Application filed February 19, 1930.

'venient to operate.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the detailed description of a specific embodiment of theinvention proceeds. m f I Attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a horizontally mounted switch and its control mechanism embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, part of a suitable supporting framework for the switch and control mechanism is shown including structural steel sections ll, 12 and 13. Insulators 15, 16 and 17 supported on pins 19, 20 and 21 respectively, form a mounting for the switch and serve to insulate the switch fromthe supporting framework. The switchhas been shown as mounted horizontally, but it is to be understood that it may be mounted vertically or in any other desired position. The switch comprises a blade 23 making contact with jaws 24 and serves in this instance to establish electrical connection between bus bar 26 and bus bar 27. Blade 23 is connected by means of clamp 28 to a bifurcated part 29 of a hinge, the other part 30 of which is rigidly secured to insulator 16 in a mannerwhich allows the blade to be swung about pin 31 as an axis.

Bus bar 26 is connected by means of stud bolts 32 to a bifurcated member 33 having arms through which the pin 31 passes. This construction enables bus 26 to be supported by insulator 16 without interfering with the action of the blade 23 as it is rotated about pin 31. In order to insure a good electrical connection between bus 26 and blade 23, a

ELECTRICAL SVJITCH Serial No. 429,823.

pairof flexible conducting cables 35 and 36 are employed which pass through the arms of bifurcated member 33. Cables 35 and 36 are connected at one end to an extension 37 of blade 23 by means of clamp and bolt members 38 and at the other end they are connected to bus 26, as for example by means of studs 32 and a clamping member 39.

he switch is operated by rotational movement of insulator 17, as will be hereinafter described, and to rotate insulator 17, pin 21 of this insulator is provided with a flange 40 to which a crank member 44 is secured by means of bolts 41 An extension on'pin 21 is journalled in a housing 42 mounted on the framework. A yoke 46, the arms of which embrace bus 26, is rigidly secured to the upper end of insulator 17 by means of bolts 47. A pin 48 extending between the arms of yoke 46, passes through a hole in bus 26 to rotate therein anda bushing 49 is provided between these parts to prevent wear. A crank member 52 is rigidly secured to the ends of the arms of yoke 46by means of bolts 53 and 54. The other end of crank member 52 is connected by means of a universal coupling 56 to one end of a rod 57 and the other extremity of rod 57 is connected by means of a universal coupling 58 to an arm 59 formed integrally with the clamp 28. I

In the drawings, the 'switch is shown in closed position and to open the switch, crank 44 is turned in a counter-clockwisedirection. By this movement, crank 52is also turned in a counter-clockwise direction through the pin 21, insulator 17 and yoke 46. Rotationof crank member52 in this direction exerts a pull on rod 57 and 1500157 thereupon pulls extension 59 in a clockwise direction about axis 31, carrying with it the blade 23 of the switch.

The universal couplings 56 and 58 at the extremities of rod 57 allow these movements without subjecting rod 57 to abnormal stresses. When the switch is in the open position, yoke 46 takes a position approximately 1 90 removed from the position it has when the switch is closed. To enable this wide angular movement of yoke 46, bolts 53 and 54 are located at unequal distances from the other end of crank. member 52 as shown in Figs. 1

and 2. This construction causes yoke 46 to take a position which forms an aiwle of approximately 45" with bus 26 in both the open and closed positions of the switch. It will be noted that since bus bar 26 is comparatively rigid it serves to steady the rotatable insulator 17, and also serves as a means for limiting angular movements of yoke 46.

In order to avoid arcing at the main contacts 24c and blade 23 of the switch, terminal member 62 of the switch has a conductor 64 secured thereto by means of bolts 63. This conductor makes a sliding contact with another conductor 65 which is carried by mounting (56 on blade 23. Arms 64 and 65 form an auxiliary contact which remains closed after the main contacts 28 and 24 have been separated, so that the arc is confined to arms 64- and 65 when the contact between these arms is broken. A stop member 68 is provided to limit the position of blade 23 when the switch is closed.

As representative of suitable means for rotating crank -14 to control the switch, a link control mechanism is provided which connects crank 44 with an operatin 'rod 93. Crank 4A is pivoted at 75 to a member 76 rigidly clamped to an actuating rod 77. A ball and socket joint 7 8 mounted on one end of actuating rod 77, connects this rod 77 with another rod 81. This latter rod 81 is connected by adjustable coupling 82 to a rod 88. Rod 83 is in turn connected through a ball and socket joint 85 to one arm 86 of a bell crank lever naving a fulcrum 87 on the framework. The other arm 89 of the bell crank lever has a pivoted connection 91 with a control rod 93. Control rod 93 extends downwardly and is connected to a suitable operating lever.

In operating the switch, control rod 93 is pulled downwardly, thereby rotating arms 86 and 89 of the bell crank lever clockwise. The ball and socket joint 85 follows the are described by arm 86 of the bell crank lever, pulling rod 81 in a direction which causes rod 77 to rotate crank 44: counterclockwise, carrying with it pin 21, insulator 17 and yoke 46. By this movement 0 'ank 52 is rotated to open the switch as previously described.

Vhile I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as other modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims:

1. In a. switching apparatus, a switch provided with a blade adapted to be rotated in an arc, a bus bar electrically connected with said blade, a rotatable yoke embracing said bus bar between its arms, means for rotating said yoke and means connecting said yoke and said blade whereby they are simultaneously rotated.

2. In a switching apparatus, a switch provided with a blade adapted to be rotated in an are, a bus bar electrically connected to said blade, a rotatable yoke embracing said bus bar between its arms, the axis of rotation of said blade and the axis of rotation of said yoke being substantially perpendicular to one another and means for imparting the rotational movement of said yoke to said blade.

3. In a switching mechanism, a switch provided with a blade adapted to be rotated in an are, a bus bar electrically connected to said blade and extending substantially in alignment with said blade in closed position, a rotatable yoke embracing said bus bar between its arms, means for rotating said yoke and means for imparting the rotational move ment of said yoke to said blade.

4. In a switching apparatus, a switch provided with a blade adapted to be rotated in an arc, a bus bar electrically connected with said blade, a yoke embracing said bus bar and rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said bus bar, means for rotating said yoke, and link mechanism connecting said yoke and said blade, whereby said yoke and said blade are rotated simultaneously about axes substantially perpendicular to one another.

5. In an electrical switch, a switch blade pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, a bifurcated member secured to said pivot pin, a bus bar connected to said bifurcated member and a flexible conducting cable serving to electrically connect said bus bar with said switch blade and extending through said bifurcated member.

6. In an electrical switch, a switch blade pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, a bifurcated member secured to said pivot pin, a bus bar connected to said bifurcated member, a flexible conducting cable serving to electri cally connect said bus bar with said switch blade and extending through said bifurcated member and means for rotating said blade about said pivot pin.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set JAMES C. REA.

my hand. 

